Speaker's Corner: MicroLinks- Microenterprise Learning Information and Knowledge Sharing (4.1.3 )

Speaker's Corner
www.microlinks.org/speakerscorner

The Speaker's Corner is a series of online conferences discussing issues around microenterprise and microfinance. Guided by leading experts on a topic, Speaker's Corners bring together professionals from across the world to share and discuss resources, ideas, and opinions, and to suggest and discuss new approaches to improve program and activity impacts. Review past Speaker's Corners to read postings and download summary documents or join us in one of our upcoming dialogues. Read the FAQ about virtual conferences.

Note: We are planning for our next Speaker's Corners. Please e-mail topic suggestions to speakerscorner@microlinks.org.

Just finished: August 17-19: Missing Links of Business Development in Base of the Pyramid (BoP) Communities

Over 70 participants joined in on this recent discussion about the role of entrepreneurs, business-to-business opportunities and youth in business development in BoP communities. You can still review postings and download related resources on the discussion page. Note: When you click this link, a new site opens; this event is hosted on microLINKS 2.0 Beta.

OTHER ONGOING EVENTS

Microfinance Learning and Innovations After Hours Seminar Series

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Linking Small Firms to Competitive Strategies: Breakfast Seminar Series

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Speakers Corner 39: Missing Links of Business Development in Base of the Pyramid (BoP) Communities August 17-19, 2010

This Speakers Corner featured discussions on entrepreneurship, business-to-business opportunities and the role of youth in business development in Base of the Pyramid (BoP) communities. Read the Discussion

Speakers Corner 38: Leveraging Financial Services for Agriculture-led Food Security June 29- July 1, 2010

This Speakers Corner focused on models and approaches needed to achieve agriculture-led development for improved food security. Read the discussion.

Speaker's Corner 37: Microfinance and Energy May 11-13, 2010

This Speakers Corner features discussions on microfinance and energy – the key objective being to better understand the role microfinance can play in helping the poor gain access to small scale energy technologies. Read the Discussion

Speaker's Corner 36: Aligning Stakeholder Interests: Making MFI Transitions Work April 13-15, 2010

During periods of transition at MFIs, institutional stakeholders often encounter challenges with organizational governance and the alignment (or misalignment) of interests among founders, management, board members, staff, donors, and investors. Read postings from discussion participants exploring those challenges and possible approaches for aligning stakeholder interests. Read discussion postings

Speaker's Corner 35: New Developments in MFI Reporting Standards July 21-23, 2010

Hosted by the SEEP Network, this discussion followed a July 15 After Hours Seminar on MFI Reporting Standards. A transcript of the dialogue and additional resources are available. You can also join the ongoing dialogue about New Developments in MFI Reporting Standards on the SEEP Network Website. Read More

Speaker's Corner 34: The Role of the Private Sector in Poverty Alleviation at the Base of the Pyramid June 23-25, 2009

Hosted by Monica Touesnard of Cornell University's Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, this Speaker's Corner explores the role of the private sector in poverty alleviation at the base of the economic pyramid. Read More

Speaker's Corner 33: Lending at the Intersection of Micro and SME Finance May 26-28, 2009

The importance of the SME sector as the driver for private sector growth in developing and transitional countries is well recognized by the donor community. Find out why the donor community is increasingly deploying resources being aimed at improving SME access to finance. Read More

Speaker's Corner 32: Value Chains for Vulnerable Populations April 28-30, 2009

How can value chains include and support populations affected by conflict, natural disaster, or HIV/AIDS? This discussion explores how value chain development programs can effectively include vulnerable populations, what social and market changes can happen during a crisis, and how to adjust activities to the particular situation and population you are working with. Read more.

Speaker's Corner 31: Increasing Value and Reducing Risks: How Value Chain Finance Can Increase Industry Competitiveness

March 24-26, 2009

Access to finance remains one of the critical obstacles to the growth of micro and small enterprises. Join in on this online discussion to explore how understanding value chains is key to increasing access for these enterprises. Read more.

Speaker's Corner 30: Lessons for a Cost-Effective Rural or Post-Disaster Household Survey January 27 & 28, 2009

Gathering household data for microfinance or development can be difficult and costly in rural, post-disaster, and other challenging environments. This forum explores the choice of survey tools, survey development and implementation, managing the terrain and infrastructure challenges of rural and post-disaster environments, and how to incorporate the survey data into future product design. Read the discussion postings and related resources.

Speaker's Corner 29: Microfinance and Climate Change: Can MFIs promote environmental sustainability? November 18-20, 2008
Microfinance was developed to help lift those at the base of the pyramid out of poverty, and now, as we recognize and acknowledge the dangers of climate change, the question emerges: what can and should be done to help microfinance clients mitigate the worst effects of climate change? What is the role of MFIs in stemming this tide? Read the discussion postings and related resources.

Speaker's Corner 28: Microfinance and Enterprise Development: Effective Tools to Eradicate Poverty? October 14-16 2008
Despite ambitious goals to eradicate poverty, “mainstream” microfinance and enterprise development initiatives fail to reach large numbers of very poor people, and our understanding of what kind of products and services are demanded by very poor people is still insufficient. Read the discussion postings and related resources.

Speaker's Corner 27: Economic Recovery Standards September 23-25 2008
An online dialogue to discuss the Economic Recovery Standards the SEEP Network is currently developing for humanitarian responses in crisis-affected areas. Read the discussion postings and related resources.

Speaker's Corner 26: Outsourcing Options for Microfinance Institutions? September 16-18 2008
Outsourcing core banking systems may be a viable opportunity for smaller microfinance institutions to increase their efficiency and capacity. Hosted by Alice Liu, this Speaker's Corner focused on the concerns and opportunities related to outsourcing. Read the discussion postings and related resources.

Speaker's Corner 25: Savings: The Forgotten Half of Financial Interventions? July 8-10 2008
While research shows that low income people save significant amounts (in cash or kind), savings remains neglected as a financial intervention. Hosted by Madhurantika Moulick of MicroSave, this Speaker’s Corner discussed the demand and supply side of savings, with special attention for savings options in hard to reach areas. Read the discussion postings and download savings resources shared by the participants (text-only). Download the Compilation Document.

Speaker's Corner 24: Staff Incentives: How to Make Them Work for You, April 15-17 2008

Staff incentive schemes (SIS) play a key role in a human resources strategy. Poorly designed systems, however, can quickly backfire and produce negative effects on staff motivation. Read the discussion postings (text-only) from this lively forum and download key resources shared by the moderators and participants.

Speaker's Corner 23: Civil-Military Cooperation on Economic Recovery in Iraq and Afghanistan, April 1-3 2008

Moderated by Mayada El-Zoghbi of Banyan Global and three guest facilitators, the forum discussed Provincial Reconstruction Teams and other forms of civil-military cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Read the discussion postings and access resources (text-only) shared during the forum.

Speaker's Corner 22: Becoming More Effective Learning Organizations, March 2008
This three-day online discussion, hosted by Jan Maes, Sara Naab, Lucho Osorio, and Sybil Chidiac, built on the experiences of four microenterprise development organizations that embarked on a path to become more effective in their sharing of knowledge and learning. Read the discussion postings and access resources (text-only) shared during the forum.

Speaker's Corner 21: Protecting Livelihoods in Conflict and Fragile States, January 2008
The USAID Poverty Frontiers Website, www.povertyfrontiers.org, hosted a Speaker's Corner on Protecting Livelihoods in Conflict and Fragile States. The forum, held January 22-24, was moderated by Laura Hammond, Lecturer in Development Studies at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. Click here to read a five-page Summary Report written by Laura Hammond on the main themes and ideas shared during the Speaker's Corner. You can also read the discussion postings and download related resources, including a compilation document that contains all discussion postings, on the main discussion page (text-only).

Speaker's Corner 20: Microinsurance
Michael McCord, President of the MicroInsurance Centre, hosted a dynamic Speaker's Corner on microinsurance. You can now read the discussion postings (text-only) or download the summary document in English and in Spanish.

Speaker's Corner 19: Disability and Economic Opportunities
Maria Reina from the International Disability Caucus and the Burton Blatt Institute and Evelyn Stark from CGAP moderated a discussion on how to improve inclusion of people with disabilities in economic strengthening programs and services. View the main discussion page (text-only).

Speaker's Corner 18: Mainstreaming Social Performance
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Speaker's Corner 17: Empowerment vs. Sustainability? Gender Innovations in Microfinance
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Speaker's Corner 16: Group vs. Individual Liability

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Speaker's Corner 15: Consumers and Credit: The Current State of Affairs in Consumer Protection

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Speaker's Corner 14: Impact Assessment

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Speaker's Corner 13: Poverty Assessment Tools

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Speaker's Corner 12: Silos to Warehouses: Partnerships that Expand Rural Financial Services
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Speaker's Corner 11: Building the Assets of the Poorest: Savings-Led Financial Services

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Speaker's Corner 10: Hype and Hope: The Worrisome State of the Microcredit Movement
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